Gillman Subaru North hosts 'bark' party

By Jeff Yip auto correspondent

Published 3:11 pm, Thursday, July 11, 2013

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Gillman Subaru North, located off of Interstate 45 near FM 1960, is celebrating dogs and their human companions with a "Dog Days of Summer" party. Pets have long been a pet cause of Subaru of America, which has partnered with the Center for Pet Safety to research pet restraint systems. less

Gillman Subaru North, located off of Interstate 45 near FM 1960, is celebrating dogs and their human companions with a "Dog Days of Summer" party. Pets have long been a pet cause of Subaru of America, which ... more

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Yeong Won, the general manager of Gillman Subaru North, says it's not unusual for Subaru shoppers to bring their dogs in to check out Subaru's canine utility vehicles like this 2014 Forester.

Yeong Won, the general manager of Gillman Subaru North, says it's not unusual for Subaru shoppers to bring their dogs in to check out Subaru's canine utility vehicles like this 2014 Forester.

Gillman Subaru North hosts 'bark' party

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If you adore tail-waggers, one car commercial you actually may pay attention to is that unabashedly syrupy video where a Subaru and a chocolate Lab puppy grow old together, serving as loyal companions to their contented, attractive owners. On Saturday, July 13, reality takes a stab at imitating art. On that Saturday, Gillman Subaru North is throwing a bark party.

The dealership, 18010 I-45 north, just north of FM 1960, came up with "Dog Days of Summer" as a way of showing appreciation to its dog-loving friends and customers. Yes, if Gillman Subaru North had a tail, it'd be wagging furry-iously.

And why not? 2013 has been a stellar year so far for Subaru of America, which sold 204,597 vehicles in the United States during the first six months of the year. That's a 24.5 percent jump compared to the same period last year. Last month's sales alone were up 42 percent, led by the Forester and Outback. "We're a Forester and Outback store," general manager Yeong Won said, with a grin.

Won was a music teacher and professional trombone player before landing in auto retailing.

Given the trouble today's schools have squeezing arts into their curricula, Won said Subaru's core values have been a great fit, allowing him to donate time teaching young music students in his off hours.

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Party time

The "Dog Days of Summer" will run 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Gillman Subaru North's new digs, just minutes from the Sam Houston Parkway.

The complimentary fun will include a disc jockey, doggie treats from Barker Street Bakery, grooming and customized pet tags. And those looking (or semi-looking) for a new four-legged buddy may find themselves rolling over and taking a fur ball home with them, thanks to on-site adoptions through the Lone Star Animal Welfare League.

Of course, it's not just dogs that want to have fun. Won said Gillman Subaru's two-legged friends will be able to partake in free James Coney Island hot dogs ("Hey, it's part of the theme, right?" Won said, with a grin), cold drinks, video games, and have a chance to win gift baskets and prizes ranging from a flat-screen television to vehicle maintenance and detailing packages.

If you're an online wizard, you can hop over to Gillman Subaru North's Facebook page (www.facebook.com/GillmanSNO ) and "like" the dealership. Explaining why your Subaru needs some love could also win you a prize.

The Gillman auto team, which is celebrating its 75th summer serving the Houston region, hopes Houstonians will stop by the bark party.

"Being involved with dogs and their owners has been a great opportunity for us to really branch out and be part of the community and help out," Won said.

"It's been a great partnership. It allows us to forge a great relationship with a lot of the great rescue groups here," he said. "The passion dog people have for their pets is unreal. They're like family members. And that's exactly where Gillman sees itself. We're very family-oriented and we're a family business."